SOUTH BAYMOUTH—The Chi-Cheemaun ferry service has faced diminishing traffic over the last few years. In this context, the Owen Sound Transportation Company (OSTC) has retained CPCS (www.cpcstrans.com) to conduct a thorough market assessment and marketing strategy for the Chi-Cheemaun ferry service.

This study’s objectives are to: identify factors that contributed to the decrease in traffic; establish the ferry’s future traffic if no action is undertaken; identify market segments where the ferry does not live up to its full potential; and identify strategies that would improve the marketing and level of service of the ferry, as well as their potential impacts on traffic.

As part of this investigation, OSTC and CPCS are committed to engage with local and regional stakeholders. These consultative and outreach efforts will ensure that the analysis is robust and reflects regional needs and realities.

A number of initiatives have been put forward to obtain the necessary feedback, including a project website www.chicheemaunmarketstudy.com) will be used to disseminate information to the public and stakeholders on the study progress, as well as a mean for stakeholders to provide feedback on the study preliminary findings. The contact information of the project manager is on the website and all stakeholders are urged to send their comments directly (in confidence).

An interview process with ferry clients will take place over a two-day period towards the end of September, as well as a phone interview process with some key local and regional stakeholders.

The South Baymouth consultation session will take place on Wednesday, September 26 from 7 and 9 pm at the South Baymouth ferry terminal.

The objective of these sessions is to obtain opinions, comments and solutions from the public in order to support CPCS in developing a realistic plan for the ferry service.

Members of the public are strongly encouraged to participate. An open discussion will follow a short (15 minutes) presentation by CPCS.

For any questions on the project or on the public consultation sessions, do not hesitate to contact Jean-François Arsenault, project manager, at the following email: